Chemical feeder and bleed-off attachment



March 24, 1964 L. w. BROUGHTON 3,126,427

' CHEMICAL FEEDER AND BLEED-OFF ATTACHMENT FOR EVAPORATIVE COOLER FiledMarch 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR L .WBPOUGHTO/V BY 6 6 u,ATTORNEY Ma 1964 w. BROUGHTON CHEMICAL FEEDER AND BLEED-OFF ATTACHMENTFOR EVAPORATIVE COOLER 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed March 28, 1962 L k z.bmm\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\m 9 m\2 6 3 m mINVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,126,427 CHEMICAL FEEDER ANDBLEED-OFF ATTACH- MENT FOR EVAPORATIVE COOLER Leland W. Br'onghton, 2320Pittsburg St., El Paso, Tex. FiledMar. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 133,092 6Claims, (Cl'. 261-2) This invention relates to an attachment adapted tobe connected to the water recirculating system of an evaporative-type.air cooler to effect a continuous feeding of a predeterminedramount of achemical into the sump water of the cooler, while the cooler is inoperation, in accordance with the total mineral content of the make-upwater, being supplied to the cooler, and the simultaneous bleeding offof a precise amount of the sump water in accordance with the mineralsalt concentration thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment capable ofeffectively functioning to enable the sump water of the cooler to hold agreater amount of minerals in suspension without being precipitated outto form scale deposits, and to cause a thin protective metaphosphatefilm to be deposited on the exposed metal surfaces of the cooler toprevent the formation of corrosion and rust resulting from the acidgases contained in the water coming in. contact with air.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an attachment whichwill maintain the mineral content of the sump water at a specifiedconcentration well below that which the chemical being utilized iscapable of holding in suspension, due to the regulated bleed-off.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away, showingthe attachment connected to a conventional evaporative-type a r cooler;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partially invertical section, of the attachment;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of a partof the attachment, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by theline 3--3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged exploded fragmentary longitudinal sectional viewof a part of the attachment, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded View, partly in elevationand partly in section, of another part of the attachment.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for the purpose ofillustrating a preferred application and use of the chemical feeder andbleed-off attachment, designated generally 7 and comprising theinvention, a conventional evaporative-type air cooler designatedgenerally 8 is illustrated in FIGURE 1 and is shown mounted on top of anenclosure 9, such as a building. The air cooler 8 includes a housing 10having a bottom portion 11 defining an upwardly opening receptacle orsump which is adapted to be supplied with water in a conventionalmanner, not shown, as by a domestic'source of water supply underpressure regulated by a float controlled valve, for maintaining apredetermined quantity of water within the sump 11. A conventional pump12 mounted in the sump 11 recirculates the water upwardly from said sumpthrough a conduit 13 to a distributor 14 from which the water isdischarged onto porous pads 15, forming the side walls of the housing11). The air drawn inwardly through the pads 15 by the blower 16 isthereby moistened and cooled. The parts 10 to 16 of the air cooler 8, asillustrated in FIGURE 1, and as briefly described, are all conventional.

The attachment 7 includes a T-fitting 17 which is interposed in theconduit 13, between the pump 12 and distributor 14 and to which an endof a conduit 18 is connected.

A container 19 is disposed beneath the other outlet end 20 of theconduit 18 and has an externally threaded open upper end 21 which isengaged by an internally threaded annular depending flange 22 of a cap23 which is thus detachably mounted on the upper end of the container19. The cap 23 has a central opening 24 extending-therethrough andformed in part by an externally threaded annular boss 25 which extendsupwardly therefrom. The boss 25 threadedly engages in an enlarged end 26of a tubular coupling 27 having a restricted opposite end 28 whichengages in the conduit end 20 for connecting said conduit to thecontainer 19.

The bottom 29 of the container 19 is provided with an externallythreaded flanged outlet'30 which is engaged by an enlarged internallythreaded end 31 of a tubular coupling 32, corresponding to the tubularcoupling 27.

A regulator, designated generally 33, comprises a sleeve having anexternal flange 34 at its open lower end and a restricted inlet orifice35 defining its upper end. A strainer, designated generally 36,comprises a hollow perforated body 37 having an open lower end 38 whichis provided with an outturned annular flange 39'. The regulator 33 fitsinto the open end 38 of the strainer 36 and the flange 34 thereof abutsthe underside of the flange 39. The flanges 34 and 39 fit in theenlarged cap shaped end 31 of the coupling 32 and are clamped between apart thereof and the distal end ofthe outlet 30, so that the strainer 35extends upwardly through said outlet 30 into the container 19, as bestseen in FIGURE 2.

An upper end 40 of a conduit or hose 41 engages over and is connected tothe restricted lower end 42 of the coupling 32, and the other dischargeend 43 of the conduit 41 opens into the sump 11, as seen in FIGURE 1.

The cap 23 has a radial passage 44 the inner end of which communicateswith the opening 24 and the outer end of which opens through theperiphery of the cap above its flange 22. One end of a nipple 45 isconnected to the outer end of the passage 44 and a cap 46 is threadedlyconnected to the other end of said nipple 45. said last mentioned nippleend has an annular cavity 47 opening outwardly thereof and disposedaround and spaced from the restricted end 48 of the nipple bore 49. Thecap 46 has a central opening 50- through which an end of a conduit 51extends. Said conduit end seats in the annular cavity 47, so that therestricted bore end 48 opens into the conduit 51, as seen in FIGURE 2.

The other end of the conduit 51 is connected to a second nipple 52 by acap 53. The nipple 52 corresponds with the nipple 45 and the cap 53corresponds to the cap 46'. The opposite end of the nipple 52 threadedlyengages centrally through a cap 54 which threadedly engages the upper'end of a cartridge 55, into which said nipple discharges. A coupling 61,corresponding to the coupling 32, has an end 62, corresponding to thecoupling end 31. Said end 62 threadedly engages over the other lower endof the cartridge 55. The cartridge 55 contains a regulator 56 and astrainer 57 which correspond with the regulator 33 and stainer 36,respectively, except that the orifice 58 at the upper end of theregulator 56 would ordinarily be smaller than the orifice 35. Theflanges 59 and 60 at the open lower ends of the regulator 56 andstrainer 57, respectively, are clamped between the lower end of thecartridge 55 and a part of the coupling end 62.

As seen in FIGURE 1, the conduit 51 extends outwardly from the housing10, as though a flanged opening 63 in the bottom of the sump 11, inwhich a part of said conduit 51 is sealed, and the cartridge 55 isdisposed externally of and below the cooler housing 10, preferably alonga part of a vertical wall of the enclosure 9. One end 64 of a conduit 65engages over and is connected to a restricted lower end 66 of thecoupling 61 and the other end of the conduit 65, not shown, dischargesto waste in any desired location externally of the enclosure 9.

When the cooler 8 is placed in operation, the pump 12 will circulatewater from the sump 11 through the conduit 13 to the distributor 14 anda part of the Water, discharged from the distributor 14 onto the pads15, returns by gravity to the sump 11 to be recirculated by the pump 12.With the attachment 7 interposed in the conduit 13, a part of the waterpassing upwardly through the conduit 13 will be returned to the sump 11without reaching the distributor 14 by passing through the branchconduit 18, container 19 and branch conduit 41, which parts thus form areturn branch conduit leading directly from the conduit 13 back to thesump 11. The container 19 is partly filled with a chemical 67. The rateof flow of the water through this branch conduit back to the sump 11will be substantially restricted by the size of the small orifice 35 inthe regulator 33, so that the remainder of the container 19 will begradually filled, by the bypassed water from the main conduit 13. As thecontainer 19 is being initially filled, air contained therein willescape through the lateral passage 44 and thence through the conduit 51,cartridge 55 and conduit 65 to the atmosphere, so that the container 19can be completely filled. A part of the chemical 67 will be dissolved byand pass outwardly from the container 19 with the bypassed water throughthe orifice 35 of the regulator 33 and thence to the sump 11. The sizeof the orifice 35 of the regulator 33 is such that a proper amount ofthe chemical 67 is discharged into the water within the sump 11 toenable the sump water to hold a greater amount of mineral salts insuspension, than would otherwise be possible, and to prevent theminerals from being precipitated out to form scale deposits. Thechemical supplied to the sump also functions to form a thin protectivemetaphosphate film as a deposit on the exposed metal surfaces of thecooler 8 as the sump water, containing the chemical, is recirculated bythe pump 12. This film protects the metal against rust and corrosionnormally caused by the acid gases in the water coming in contact withair.

The chemical 67 which is supplied to the sump water is easily capable ofmaintaining the mineral salts in suspension with a concentration offorty grains of hardness per gallon of the water. The chemical 67preferably comprises a slowly soluble phosphate as disclosed by U.S.Patent No. 3,043,772. Assuming that ten gallons of make-up water havinga hardness of ten grains per gallon is supplied automatically per hourto the sump from a domestic source of water supply, the regulator 56utilized will have an orifice 58 of a size to permit two and onehalfgallons of water to be bled off therethrough per hour. Since, thebypassed water which is collected in and fills the container 19, alongwith the chemical 67, will have a hardness of forty grains per gallonand as two and onehalf gallons of this liquid is bled off and goes towaste per hour through the regulator 56, one hundred grains of hardnesswill be removed from the water system of the air cooler 8 each hour,equaling the grains of hardness entering the water cooler each hour inthe replacement Water. If the rate of hardness of the water is greaterthan ten grains per gallon, the size of the orifice 58 of the regulator56 would be enlarged to increase the amount of bleed-oft per hour, sothat the bleed-off will always maintain the mineral content of the waterin the sump 11 at a specified concentration, never permitting the totalmineral content of the water to become greater than the chemical 67 iscapable of maintaining in suspension, so that scale deposits, rust andcorrosion will be substantially eliminated.

The strainers 36 and 57 prevent dirt and foreign matter from passingtherethrough and which might otherwise clog or impede flow through theregulator orifices 35 and 53, respectively. The strainer 36 will notprevent the chemical 67 from passing therethrough and escaping into thecoupling 32 and conduit 41 through the regulator 33.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resortedto, without departing from the function or scope of the invention ashereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I clam as my invention:

1. In combination with an evaporative-type air cooler including a casinghaving a bottom portion forming a sump containing water, porous coolingpads supported by peripheral portions of the casing above the sump, aconduit extending upwardly from below the liquid level in the sump andhaving an upper discharge end disposed adjacent said pads, means forrecirculating the water from the sump through said conduit to the pads,and means to supply make-up water of a predetermined hardness to thesump; a chemical feeder and bleed-off attachment comprising a bypassconduit having an upper inlet end connected to and receiving water fromsaid first mentioned conduit and a lower discharge end opening into thesump for bypassing a part of the water passing upwardly through thefirst mentioned conduit directly back to the sump, a containerinterposed in and forming a part of the bypass conduit, a watersoftening chemical partially filling the container, a first regulatormeans disposed in the lower portion of said container for regulating theamount and concentration of the water and chemical mixture dischargedfrom said bypass conduit into the sump and for restricting the flow fromsaid container to cause filling of the remainder of the container withthe bypassed water, a bleed-off conduit communicating with and leadingfrom an upper part of said container above the level of the chemicaltherein and discharging to waste externally of the cooler for bleedingoff water from the sump having a hardness greater than the hardness ofthe make-up water, and a second regulator means interposed in saidbleed-off conduit for restricting the flow therethrough whereby thequantity of the water discharged to waste is substantially less than thequantity of the make-up water supplied to the sump and constitutes onlya small proportion of the liquid passing through the bypass conduit.

2. In a combination as defined by claim 1, said container having abottom provided with an outlet, said first regulator means comprising atubular body disposed in said outlet and having an upper end providedwith a restricted orifice constituting the inlet of the regulator means,and means detachably clamping said tubular body in the container outlet.

3. In a combination as defined by claim 2, a strainer having a lower enddisposed around said tubular body and secured thereto and to thecontainer by said last mentioned means, said strainer extending upwardlyinto the container and terminating substantially above said orifice.

4. In a combination as defined by claim 1, said container including adetachable cap defining the upper end thereof and having a passageextending therethrough, lengthwise of the container, forming a part ofthe bypass conduit, said cap having a laterally extending passagecommunicating with said first mentioned passage and with an inlet end ofthe bleed-off conduit.

5. In a combination as defined by claim 1, said bleedoif conduitincluding a rigid section spaced from the ends said tubular body isdisposed, said strainer being secured by said last mentioned means tothe rigid section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,319,565 Stratton May 18, 1943 2,709,522 Osborne May 31, 1955 2,725,729Mills Dec. 6, 1955 3,043,772 Liddell July 10, 1962

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN EVAPORATIVE-TYPE AIR COOLER INCLUDING A CASINGHAVING A BOTTOM PORTION FORMING A SUMP CONTAINING WATER, POROUS COOLINGPADS SUPPORTED BY PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF THE CASING ABOVE THE SUMP, ACONDUIT EXTENDING UPWADLY FROM BELOW THE LIQUID LEVEL IN THE SUMP ANDHAVING AN UPPER DISCHARGE END DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID PADS, MEANS FORRECIRCULATING THE WATER FROM THE SUMP THROUGH SAID CONDUIT TO THE PADS,AND MEANS TO SUPPLY MAKE-UP WATER OF A PREDETERMINED HARDNESS TO THESUMP; A CHEMICAL FEEDER AND BLEED-OFF ATTACHMENT COMPRISING A BYPASSCONDUIT HAVING AN UPPER INLET END CONNECTED TO AND RECEIVING WATER FROMSAID FIRST MENTIONED CONDUIT AND A LOWER DISCHARGE END OPENING INTO THESUMP FOR BYPASSING A PART OF THE WATER PASSING UPWARDLY THROUGH THEFIRST MENTIONED CONDUIT DIRECTY BACK TO THE SUMP, A CONTAINER INTERPOSEDIN AND FORMING A PART OF THE BYPASS CONDUIT, A WATER SOFTENING CHEMICALPARTIALLY FILLING THE CONTAINER, A FIRST REGULATOR MEANS DISPOSED IN THELOWER PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER FOR REGULATING THE AMOUNT ANDCONCENTRATION OF THE WATER AND CHEMICAL MIXTURE DISCHARGED FROM SAIDBYPASS CONDUIT INTO THE SUMP AND FOR RESTRICTING THE FLOW FROM SAIDCONTAINER TO CAUSE FILLING OF THE REMAINDER OF THE CONTAINER WITH THEBYPASSED WATER, A BLEED-OFF CONDUIT COMMUNICATING WITH AND LEADING FROMAN UPPER PART OF SAID CONTAINER ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE CHEMICAL THEREINAND DISCHARGING TO WASTE EXTERNALLY OF THE COOLER FOR BLEEDING OFF WATERFROM THE SUMP HAVING A HARDNESS GREATER THAN THE HARDNESS OF THE MAKE-UPWATER, AND A SECOND REGULATOR MEANS INTERPOSED IN SAID BLEED-OFF CONDUITFOR RESTRICTING THE FLOW THERETHROUGH WHEREBY THE QUANTITY OF THE WATERDISCHARGED TO WASTE IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE QUANTITY OF THEMAKE-UP WATER SUPPLIED TO THE SUMP AND CONSTITUTES ONLY A SMALLPROPORTION OF THE LIQUID PASSING THROUGH THE BYPASS CONDUIT.